Hiking through 16 miles of snow, ice and fog in Crocs, hikers Josh Macandog and Issay Dibaba recount their underprepared misadventure hiking the South Loop Trail to Mt. Charleston Peak so others do not repeat their mistakes. In the past three weeks, there have been four air rescues for hikers attempting the same trail.
According to weather data from the Mt. Charleston Fire Station, which sits at about 7,500 feet, temperatures would reach lows of 16 degrees Fahrenheit. The climb to Mt. Charleston Peak via South Loop Trails involves nearly 5,000 feet of elevation gain before hikers can reach the peak at 11,916 feet.
The ordeal left the pair with pain that lasted days to weeks.
“I definitely suffered from one of my falls really badly,” said Macandog, who had a swollen knee for weeks and had to wear a brace.
“My body felt really bad. I couldn't even go up and down the stairs for like two days. It was like a fight for my life. And I was basically bedridden for the first day,” said Dibaba.
The duo said they were thankful that they were able to survive the experience, showing emotion when they learned of the air rescues that would happen on the same trail they hiked. Still interested in hiking, Macandog and Dibaba said they will approach their next adventures with greater preparation — and with checks on the day’s forecast.
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